Equipment
Photos of TaylorMade irons from the last 35 years
TaylorMade has been making irons for more than 35 years, and depending on how long you’ve been playing golf, there’s a decent chance you’ve used one or more of the iron sets below.
Our slideshows cover each decade of TaylorMade irons, and we’ve captioned certain photos to help put the company’s iron launches in historical context. For more on the past, present and future of the iron-design process, make sure to read our deep dive on the topic: How TaylorMade designs its next set of irons.
What’s your favorite set of TaylorMade irons from the ’80s, ’90s, ’00s and ’10s? What did you like about them? Which sets did you buy, and which ones would you still use today? Let us know in the comments section at the end of this article. And remember, you can click the photos to enlarge them and read the full captions.
1980-1989
- TaylorMade’s first iron was released in 1980. It was a design inspired by PGA Tour player Ken Venturi, thus the name KVD.
- The PR1 irons were also released in 1980.
- The EL1 irons were released in 1982.
- The Tour Preferred F irons were released in 1985.
- The Iron Cleeks hit shelves in 1986.
- Released in 1987, the Tour Preferred TD were players irons with a hollow cavity in the 1-4 irons
1990-1999
- 1991: The ICW-5 irons were designed for better players, while the ICW-11 were for average golfers. Both had progressive offset.
- The ICW Mid Tour irons were released in 1992.
- Released in 1993, the Burner Midsize irons had a foam-filled club heads to increase perimeter weighting.
- The Burner Bubble Tour irons (1996) won two major championships and were the first TaylorMade irons to gain a big following on the PGA Tour.
- 1996: Burner Bubble Oversized
- The Burner Bubble LCG irons were released in 1997.
- Released in 1997, the Ti Bubble 2 irons used tungsten and copper weights to lower CG for a higher launch angle.
- The FireSole Forged irons were released in 1999.
- 1999: The FireSole long irons were titanium and the mid irons were steel. Both used tungsten weights to lower CG. The short irons were made of nickel to improve feel.
- The FireSole Tour irons were released in 1999.
- The SuperSteel irons were released in 1999.
2000-2009
- 2000: The 300’s were forged, and the smallest of the 300-Series irons.
- 2000: The 320’s were slightly larger, and offered a higher launch angle and more forgiveness.
- 2002: The RAC LT irons used an energy vibration system to improve sound and feel.
- 2002: The RAC OS irons were larger, and had a lightweight cartridge that allowed engineers to reposition 32 grams of weight in the club head.
- 2002: The RAC HT irons used larger club heads with wider soles to launch shots higher and farther.
- 2006: At $1,300, the RAC CGB irons were expensive, but they were easily the longest, most forgiving irons in company history when they were released.
- 2006: The RAC MB TP irons were one of the most beloved TaylorMade muscleback sets of all time.
- 2006: The R7 irons introduced Inverted Cone Technology (ICT) to deliver more ball speed and better distance control.
- 2007: The R7 TP irons were smaller irons, and used on the PGA Tour.
- The Burner Plus irons were released in 2008.
- The Burner XD irons were released in 2008.
- The Tour Burner irons were released in 2008.
- The Burner ’09 irons are considered by many to be golf’s first “distance iron.” They sold exceptionally well for TaylorMade.
- RAC MB TP Smoke: Everyone’s favorite TaylorMade muscleback iron, released in 2008 with a “smoke” finish.
- The R9 irons were released in 2009.
- The R9 TP irons were released in 2009, and were popular with PGA Tour players.
- So were TaylorMade’s Tour Preferred TP irons, which were also released in 2009.
2010-2016
- 2010: The Burner 2.0 irons had a thinner face and more precise weighting than their predecessors.
- 2011: TaylorMade Staffer Daniel Berger still uses TaylorMade’s Tour Preferred MC irons.
- The R11 irons were released in 2011.
- The RBZ irons were released in 2012.
- The RBZ Max irons were released in 2012.
- 2013: RocketBladez used a slot in the sole to deliver more distance and consistency. Smash hit for TaylorMade.
- The RocketBladez Max irons were larger, longer and more forgiving, and also released in 2013.
- 2013: The Tour Preferred CB irons were the follow-up to TaylorMade’s RocketBladez Tour irons.
- 2013: Dustin Johnson and Justin Rose still use TaylorMade’s Tour Preferred MB irons.
- 2014: The follow-up to RocketBladez. SpeedBlade flew higher with improved consistency.
- 2014: The SLDR irons were a very expensive set of irons to produce. They were intended for golfers deciding between a distance iron and a players iron.
- 2015: TaylorMade puts Face Slots on the RSi 1 irons, which replaced SpeedBlade.
- 2015: The RSi 2 irons used a complex, multi-material construction and a progressive design to appeal to a wide range of golfers.
- 2015: TaylorMade focused on looks and feel with the PSi, shrinking the heads when compared to RSi 2 and adding Hybrar for a softer sound at impact.
- 2015: The PSi Tour irons are popular on the PGA Tour, and are forged from 1025 carbon steel. They have milled Speed Pockets and Face Slots.
- 2016: TaylorMade’s longest-flying iron in history. An ultra-low CG drives their performance.
- 2016: A smaller version of the M2 irons.
Whats in the Bag
Christiaan Maas WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: TaylorMade Qi4D LS (8 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Blue 6 X

3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 (15 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 9 TX

Irons: TaylorMade P770 (3), TaylorMade P7CB (4), TaylorMade P7TW (5-PW)
Shafts: Fujikura Ventus Black HB 10 X, True Temper Dynamic Gold X100

Wedges: TaylorMade Prototype (50-SB09), TaylorMade MG5 (56-HB12, 60-LV07)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold S400


Putter: TaylorMade TP Juno

Ball: Titleist Pro V1x
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord
Check out more in-hand photos of Christiaan Maas’ clubs here.
Equipment
TaylorMade MySpider Tour and Tour X: More customizable build options now available
TaylorMade Golf’s MySpider program underwent a substantial overhaul over the last month. Firstly, the company launched the option to customize the Spider ZT model, and now the program has returned with the MySpider Tour and MySpider Tour X.
The revamped page now gives golfers complete control over every visual and functional detail of their putter on the popular Tour and Tour X head, with every cosmetic idea thought of. In MySpider Tour, golfers can choose from four head finishes, 16 paint fill colors, nine Surlyn face insert colors, three aluminum insert options, six sightline configurations, and four hosel options — L-neck, small slant, double bend, center shaft. Six sightline options are available in MySpider Tour, including the optically engineered True Path alignment system. MySpider Tour X gives builders the option of four head finishes, four hosel configurations, and five sightline options, also including True Path alignment.
One of the more interesting features of the new MySpider program is the availability of three distinct face insert options. Along with the usual Surlyn Pure Roll insert trusted by Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy, which can be customized from nine colors, golfers can now also select firmer options. Two are offered with the black aluminum Pure Roll insert, slightly firmer than the traditional insert, or for the firmest feel, golfers can choose from two colors of milled aluminum inserts.

Another fun addition to the MySpider Tour is the ability to use the “Tommy Sightline.” The custom alignment aid design, which was first drawn onto Tommy Fleetwood’s putter by PGA Tour Rep James Holley, is based on the milled sightline on his Spider ZT head. There are five shorter lines on the left and right of a longer central line serving as the traditional short line alignment aid.
See below for the full specifications sheet for MySpider Tour and Tour X:
MySpider Tour

MySpider Tour X

Equipment
Then and now: Comparing Rory McIlroy’s current setup to his record-breaking 2019 Canadian Open victory
In Rory McIlroy’s first appearance at the 2019 RBC Canadian Open, he crushed the record books to earn his 16th PGA Tour title in dominating fashion, winning by seven shots over Shane Lowry and Webb Simpson.
McIlroy’s score of 22-under-par 258 is the lowest 72-hole score to date at the Canadian Open, and his closing 61 is also the best final-round score in the history of one of golf’s oldest tournaments. Finally, with his win in 2019, McIlroy became only the sixth player to win the career Triple Crown, adding to his victories at the U.S. Open in 2011 and The Open Championship in 2014, joining Tommy Armour, Walter Hagen, Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino and Tiger Woods in a coveted list.
So, with that, why not compare his current setup to the clubs he used to break all the records?
Driver
2019: TaylorMade M5 (9 degrees), Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro White 70 TX
2026: TaylorMade Qi4D (9 degrees @8), Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 7X (45 5/8 inches)

McIroy led the Tour in Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee in 2019; he’s doing the same in 2026. Between now and then, McIlroy has switched from the Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro White 70 TX (a shaft with slightly more feeling in the tip) to the original Fujikura Ventus Black 7X, having just made the change to the heavier version from playing the 60X.
What’s interesting about McIlroy’s 2019 setup is that the weighting on his driver is actually set in the high-draw setting, using the T-Track weighting system, whereas in the Qi4D, he’s currently using a heavily rear-weighted setup. (Two 13-gram weights in the rear and only two 4-gram front weights.)
The TaylorMade M5 driver he played in during his Canadian Open win was the company’s first head that they claimed to design to initially exceed the USGA’s COR limit, and then injected with tuning resin to bring it back in bounds.
Fairway woods
2019: TaylorMade M6 3-wood (15 degrees), Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro White 80 TX; TaylorMade M5 5-wood (19 degrees), Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro White 90 TX
2026: TaylorMade Qi4D 3-wood (15 degrees), Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 8X; TaylorMade Qi4D 5-wood (18 degrees), Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 9X

The TaylorMade M6 fairway wood that McIlroy was using during the 2019 season is still in the bag of some of the best golfers on Tour in 2026. Just check out Justin Rose’s winning setup from the Farmers Insurance Open earlier this year. This year, though, McIlroy has still been searching for his top-end-of-the-bag setup, having played both the new Qi4D and the Qi10, which he won the Masters with.

The same shaft swap can be seen in the fairway woods as the driver, along with slightly less loft on the 5-wood.
Irons
2019: TaylorMade P750 (4) Buy here, TaylorMade P730 (5-9), Shafts: Project X 7.0
2026: TaylorMade P760 (4), TaylorMade Rors Proto (5-9), Shafts: Project X 7.0

The biggest difference between McIlroy’s custom set and the stock P730s is the groove design. While the P730s were constructed with 14 MX-9 grooves on their milled faces, McIlroy’s proto heads instead use the higher-spinning, 16-groove layout of the TW2 grooves. Other big differences between the sets are that McIlroy’s 7- and 8-irons have thinner toplines, are 1 degree stronger in loft, and are 1/4 inch longer than the original P730 builds.
With McIlroy’s 4-iron, the switch from P750 to P760 sees a transition to a two-piece construction with Speed Foam in it, which allows McIlroy to launch the ball slightly higher, with more workability.
Wedges
2019: TaylorMade Milled Grind (48-09SB), TaylorMade MG Hi-Toe (52-09SB, 56-09SB, 60-LB09), Shafts: Project X Rifle 6.5
2026: TaylorMade MG5 (46-09SB, 50-09SB, 54-11SB, 60-08LB @61), Shafts: Project X 6.5 (46-54), Project X 6.5 Wedge (60)

Between 2019 and 2026, McIlroy’s focus on his short game has been much more apparent. It was the reason why he switched back to the TP5 golf ball, to help with launch, spin and control with his wedges leading up to his career Grand Slam victory in 2025. The most apparent changes to McIlroy’s wedge setup are his lofts and bounce. He’s slowly delofted his pitching to a sand wedge, but has increased the loft on the lob wedge, bending his current 60-degree to 61. With that, adding more loft to his lob wedge also slightly increases the bounce and leading-edge sit point, so, as a result, he plays a lower-bounce lob wedge compared to 2019. The MG5 wedges are also softer than the first Milled Grind option from 2019. McIlroy also no longer plays the full-face grooves found on the Hi-Toe.
Putter
2019: TaylorMade Spider X
2026: TaylorMade Spider Tour X

Notice anything similar. Yes, the copper finish on Rory McIlroy’s Spider X putter in 2019 is a slightly more reflective finish than the recently released torched PVD finish. McIlroy was using the True Path alignment system, but now uses only a single white sightline.
Ball
2019: 2019 TaylorMade TP5 (#22)
2026: 2025 TaylorMade TP5 (RORS)
As mentioned above, McIlroy had transitioned from the TP5 to TP5x golf ball since his victory in Canada in 2019, but now is black with the same style of golf ball as his victory at Hamilton Golf & Country Club.
Grips
2019: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord
2026: Golf Pride MCC
Interesting, McIlroy actually used Golf Pride’s Tour Velvet Cord grips during his victory in 2019 (it was during a 2+ year switch to the corded TV) as opposed to his usual MCC grips, which he has played for most of his career.
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rex235
May 6, 2016 at 12:22 am
The 1987 TM TD Tour Preferred Iron was one of the best irons ever, and a LH model was available.
Some of these newer models like the TM TP Forged from 2005 were a nod to the MacGregor MT Wingbacks from 50 years earlier. Coin Forged? Smoke? RH only to be sure, and Miura made?
Taylor Made golf made a LH Forged 300 set for Mike Weir and he won the Masters, then promptly said they would NOT make this model available to other LH golfers. DID NOT CARE.
The current TM Tour Preferred blade iron is also RH only, and is a nod to the first Ben Hogan Precision model from 1954-55.
TM’s first Pittsburgh Persimmon Models were game changers, but for the most part their iron models remain Right Hand only.
RB
May 2, 2016 at 1:51 pm
Interesting – had kind of forgotten how popular TM irons were in the past decades, and how well regarded they used to be.
All those clubs listed, and it doesn’t include the only TM irons i ever played – Rocketbladez Tour. Completely different club than the std. Rocketbladez
Brando
Apr 30, 2016 at 3:59 am
I hit a friends 1993 or so Taylor Made original Burner Driver last week 10 degree. Hit it great on a tight hole 260 yards right down the middle or so at 43.5 inches long. My sldr I probably hit 280-288 yards avg. The old Taylor hit it nice and low very boring flight. I am about a 7 handicap and had it to two under yesterday after 14 holes great for me. The home stretch the holes were all dead into a 20mph wind and I fell apart sprayed a few drives and finished 3 over par. I think if I had that original burner driver on those last few holes things may have been different. When hit on the screws the clubs from the 1990’s still preform very well. I hit a original burner 5 wood 1993 model all through high school golf and I really don’t find that club much different than today’s hybrid clubs in head shape trajectory or ease of hitting the sweet spot. Sure on down wind drives the new stuff will really crush the small headed drivers but I am thinking to pick up one of those original Taylor Made Burners for tight tracks and windy days is good to have.
Ballz
May 1, 2016 at 1:56 am
It’s the ball. Pick the right ball, the one that has lower trajectory. So much technology is in the balls now.
Adam Scott
Apr 29, 2016 at 10:00 pm
Too many products!
gdb99
Apr 29, 2016 at 9:59 pm
What happened to the ferrules?
emb
Apr 30, 2016 at 12:44 pm
these are just heads, no shaft. A loose shaft was just put in so show the address position better, hence no ferrule
Chuck D
Apr 29, 2016 at 6:59 pm
@ The Man! Fantastic list!! The ICW 11’s!! Oh, those bring back memories. I did some serious damage to courses with those sticks!
Nath
Apr 29, 2016 at 4:48 pm
Its great that GOLFWRX has put up these photos of TAYLORMADE irons over the last 35 years.
What is not so good is that taylormade removed the whole history of their irons from their website some 3-4 years ago, completely removed it! Dumb move taylormade.
skip
May 6, 2016 at 5:07 pm
Can’t agree more.
jrp
Apr 29, 2016 at 4:40 pm
They didn’t show the X-300 FCI limited edition forged in Japan by Miura for the Us market. Those were soft & sweet!
Mark
Apr 30, 2016 at 10:36 am
Oh yeah. Those had a good design. Figures… Miura.
Regis
Apr 29, 2016 at 4:31 pm
I played Mizuno then Miura forged but as my swing speed and ball striking declined with age, I started looking for a GI alternative with graphite shafts. The RACs were good, as were the R7 CGB Max irons ( I turned a friend on to them and he’s an avid golfer and he has no interest in upgrading) but my favorites are the SLDR irons which I re-shafted with Matrix Kujoh shafts. For me they’re the best heads ever made by TMAG
golfbum
Apr 29, 2016 at 3:52 pm
TPF irons are probably the finest iron design ever. In fact still made today by a number of japan forging houses: vega irons Kyoei. The funny story here is that LOU ORTIZ of Orlimar designed them; chose to go in on the tooling with Taylormade. Have the whole story from Jesse Ortiz. Fine iron design and still playable today. LOVE looking at quality clubs of yesteryear!
Mark
Apr 29, 2016 at 3:37 pm
No ICW5s? They were gorgeous. I understand the tour heads were cast softer to improve feel.
The man
Apr 29, 2016 at 3:07 pm
According the the PGA below (not in release order) is the full list of every TM iron set.
200 Steel
300
320
360
360 XD
Aeroburner
Burner 1.0
Burner 2.0
Burner 2009
Burner HT
Burner LCG
Burner Midsize
Burner Oversize
Burner Plus
Burner SuperFast 3.0
Burner Superlaunch
Burner Superlaunch Rescue
Burner Tour
Burner XD
EL-1
F81
Firesole
Firesole Tour
ICW 11
ICW 5
Iron Cleek
Kalea
KVD
LCG
M2
M2 Tour
Miscela
Miscela 2006
PR 1
PSi
PSi Tour
R11
r5 XL
r7
r7 cgb MAX
r7 cgb MAX 2008
r7 Draw
r7 Draw Rescue Hybrid
r7 TP
r7 XD
R9
R9 TP
RAC CGB
RAC Forged CB TP
RAC HT
RAC LT
RAC LT 2005
RAC MB
RAC MB TP
RAC MB TP Smoke
RAC OS
RAC OS 2005
RAC TP 2005
RAC TP Combo
RBZ Pro
RBZ Pro Combo
RocketBallz
RocketBallz HP
RocketBallz Max
RocketBladez
RocketBladez HL
RocketBladez HP
RocketBladez Max
RocketBladez Tour
RSi 1
RSi 2
RSi TP
SLDR
Speedblade
Speedblade HL
SuperSteel
Titanium Bubble 2
Tour Burner
Tour Preferred
Tour Preferred 2009
Tour Preferred CB
Tour Preferred CB 2014
Tour Preferred MB
Tour Preferred MB 2014
Tour Preferred MC
Tour Preferred MC 2014
X-300 FCI
Nath
Apr 30, 2016 at 9:44 pm
Now why cant we get this info from TM site?
Dan
Apr 29, 2016 at 3:01 pm
What about the Tour Prefered MCs? Great sticks.
http://www.fairwaygolfusa.com/taylormade-tour-preferred-mc-irons-p-67936.html?language=en&gclid=Cj0KEQjwjIy5BRClh8m_9Zu64d8BEiQAtZsQf8vGnM6TRxqtYdDqaZxtCNrT7evbnBn2zRDnqissV60aAvW48P8HAQ
Hawk
Apr 29, 2016 at 2:51 pm
I’m sure it’s not just me, but following the time line it appears that TM’s production line used to be 2-3 years until 2007 where it went to a year, and now it is like 6 months….WTF Taylormade…
Al Cleaver
Apr 29, 2016 at 2:37 pm
Blindfold me, take off the logos, let me hit 10 different brands of similar irons and I still end up with Taylormade.
Owned Firesole Titanium Tungsten, RAC LT, now Rocket Bladz. All have been satisfying to play with. Each suited my skills at the time.
B Clizzle
Apr 29, 2016 at 5:55 pm
You must like that plastic feel at impact
Steve C
Apr 29, 2016 at 2:32 pm
Of course we all have our personal favorites on the trip down memory lane. For me, the tour preferred TDs of 1987 were my club of choice. I played them for years eventually finding the two iron 2 iron to add to add to the set. Those long irons were soooo easy to hit. (Of course I never broke a 4 hdcp., so what do I know?)
simon Burrows
Apr 29, 2016 at 1:26 pm
The TM300s are still in the bag. Yet to find anything better.
B Clizzle
Apr 29, 2016 at 4:55 pm
Must not be looking since it’s like every iron ever
Dlygrisse
Apr 29, 2016 at 12:29 pm
I can sum up TM irons with one general statement over the years….meh….
MT
Apr 29, 2016 at 12:52 pm
http://taylormadegolf.jp/PreviousModel_Irons_2009.html
All the Forged version have been awesome in Japan.
Pandhandle Loki
Apr 29, 2016 at 12:25 pm
Wonder who will comment 50 million times on this article
adan
Apr 29, 2016 at 12:04 pm
My first set in golf was the TM RAC OS. I only care about their drivers anymore.
B Clizzle
Apr 29, 2016 at 4:56 pm
What irons are you playing now?
Miquel Angel
Apr 29, 2016 at 11:52 am
Thanks for the sentimental journey. I shot in the 70’s for the first time usign the icw5 – and those RAC MP TP Smokes…wowza…
CCTxGolf
Apr 29, 2016 at 11:41 am
This was cool. It would be interesting to see for all of the top brands.
Hawk
Apr 29, 2016 at 2:57 pm
I heard they thought about it, but the other brands didn’t have half the total number of irons during the same time period so they thought it would be less interesting….
B Clizzle
Apr 29, 2016 at 4:58 pm
Still for the club ho….
We’d like to see it but want someone else to do the work for us
Matty
Apr 29, 2016 at 11:41 am
To be honest, does anyone think that the look of the M2 and M2 Tour irons would be better if they took out those 2 bars at the back of the iron?
MT
Apr 29, 2016 at 12:46 pm
No.
lol
Poi
Apr 29, 2016 at 11:34 am
Awesome stuff.
cody
Apr 29, 2016 at 11:08 am
missed a few sets but pretty cool to see.
Matt
Apr 29, 2016 at 10:18 am
The 300 Forged irons were some of the best irons ever made. Could easily still be gamed today.
dapadre
Apr 29, 2016 at 11:18 am
You beat me to it…….yes indeed the 300s were simple but efficient.
Johnny
Apr 29, 2016 at 11:34 am
Indeed, the 300 forged was the best they have made. Still see them in bags at the club sometimes.
cgasucks
Apr 29, 2016 at 2:57 pm
My heart still flutters every time I see those irons…they as beautiful as they perform…